Sarvodaya’s response to the emergency situation caused by flooding in Ampara and Batticaloa districts

Due to the heavy rainfall that began on Saturday, January 8, 2011, and has continued unabated until today (Tuesday, January 11), more than half the villages in the Batticaloa district have been submerged, with the population forced to seek refuge in schools and temples in the dry areas nearby.

On January 9, Sarvodaya began distributing flood relief items to the people who were forced to flee their homes, and continues to provide relief support to victims in isolated areas.

Almost all the villages in the Vavunativu DS Division are currently underwater. Roads are impassable and the Vavunativu Bridge has been damaged, cutting off the nearby villages from the town of Batticaloa. Hospitals, government offices and shops are unable to function. Most homes have been cut off from their power supplies.

Sarvodaya is in the forefront among the organizations working to help the victims in these villages. A long-time partner with the villagers, Sarvodaya has been active in the area for more than 12 years. Currently, the villages are accessible only by boat, and Sarvodaya’s relief items are being delivered by boat.

The floods have damaged 80 houses in Kalkudah, 140 houses in Mahilavedduwan and 12 houses in Naripulthoddam. Due to the damage caused to the Vavunathivu Bridge, all relief items were transported to these villages via the A5 route to Aithiamalai.

On January 10, Sarvodaya officers visited the displaced people in camps in the following seven villages, bringing them boiled pigeon pea for their dinner; 350 kg of pigeon pea were provided to 2,100 people in 500 families in the following village camps:
1. Vavunativu,
2. Kotiapula,
3. Puthumandapathadi,
4. karaveddy,
5. Pavatkodichchenai,
6. Sinnakalapoddamadu,
7. Munthanamadu

On January 11, 150 kg of boiled pigeon pea was provided to 1,200 people of the following village camps in Eravur:
1. Arafat Vidyalaya
2. Iyankerni RDS Building Camp,
3. Kalaimahal Vidyalaya in Arumukathankudirippu,
4. Hidjra Nagar Vidyalaya

In addition, 200 kg of chick pea (31,000 rupees), as well as 63,900 rupees worth of food parcels were distributed in the following locations: Uhana (Nawagiriyaya); Samnthure; Eravur D.S. Division; Kidiranagea; Thaleinagar Vidyalaya; Ameer Ali School; Arafath School and Lyankeary.

Sarvodaya’s response to the emergency situation caused by flooding in Ampara and Batticaloa districts